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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday Stamping Challenge + Zoya Stephanie

It is a good thing that I'm stubborn because otherwise I would have given up on this manicure about five takes ago. It was just one of those days when everything falls, acetone spills, the tape rips off the layers underneath, and just when you redid the problem nail(s) for the 3rd time and it is as good as it will get given the circumstances you bump it into something. Ugh! However, I'm glad that I didn't give up because I actually like what I came up with for this week's Sunday Stamping Challenge. The challenge was simply to make a manicure using any stamping plate that ends in 7. The hardest part is having too many choices :)

For the manicure I started out with a coat of Zoya Stephanie then added french tips using Wet 'n Wild French White Creme and topped it off with a second coat of Stephanie. The flowers were stamped using Color Club Hot Like Lava and Ebay plate m07. Flower centers were added using Sally Hansen Celeb City. I had originally intended for the bottom branch to lie along the tip of the nail, but since I stamped lopsided, I added a slanted tip using Hot Like Lava to accentuate the slope. Let's just pretend that I intended it the whole time because I like it so much more with the foil tips than as just a plain french mani...

I have swatched Zoya Stephanie before, but that was on my little shortie nails, so here are some fresh swatches. This is three coats plus a top coat. Application was good, but not perfect. I kept getting bald spots that did eventually even out by the third coat. The color is lovely, a sheer peachy pink. Perfect for a french mani or on it's own since it covers nicely by three coats.

I love wearing sheers like this by themselves quite a bit. In fact, before I
started blogging I used to wear sheers all spring/summer and dark colors
fall/winter. Just take a look at my first Zoya haul back in May of last
year... oh how different that order would be now... :D

Oh I know those days, when nothing seems to work :P But I love the end-result! It looks so pretty, especially with the foil tips! Gorgeous! Before blogging I wore a lot of pink polishes, so yeah, that changed :D

Wow, you girls are all so sweet! Now I'm really glad I didn't give up :)

@Hatsu-hinoiri, thank you :)

@Carolina, you are so sweet! Than you. I think you nails are so pretty!

@Elsa, Thank you! It wouldn't be so bad if everything wasn't falling out of my hands that day :)

@Angie, It takes practice, some days are much better than other :DI have mostly Zoya's left at this point, I tossed all my old ones. You should come play with them see if you find the right color :)

@Jennius, thank you :)

@Fingers, I tend to be stubborn, either have to get it to where I like it, or I remove the whole thing :)

@Trinka, thank you for commenting! You are very sweet :)

@MissAdelinne, thank you! :)

@Theodora, blogging really dose change a person's tastes... I'm more willing to try something out of the box and like it. Although my mom insists I should stick with pinks and reds... "the natural colors" :D

@Gwenn, The foils from Color Club are perfect for stamping and look great on their own. I'm hoping to swatch them at some point :)

@KimsKie, thank you! I'm glad you like it :)

@Kirsten, thanks! I love the peachy sheers. Thanks for the tag :)

@Susy, thank you. I like the last minute addition to, it completes the mani :)

This just proves that patience pays off!!!!All of these layers come together to make one lovely delicate look. I swooned over it, and then I saw just the Zoya shade on its own and I was also a 'sucker' for it.SOOO PRETTY!

@Kirstie, I don't think this is a dupe. Essie Fiji is more opaque, this Zoya is very sheer. More of a french tip kind of pink. I would suggest going to Zoya's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ZoyaNailPolish) and ask the question. Someone is likely to know what the true Zoya dupe for Fiji is. Good luck. :)

About Me

I am a self proclaimed craft nerd. I love all things crafty and will try just about any of it. Favorite hobbies include carving candles, decorating cakes, and making jewelry. In my free time, I love to play with nail polish! Questions/comments? Feel free to contact me at angalek@gmail.com